After drinking coffee with his baby sister on Friday, October 26, 2018, Wilridge Doucet played his last down in a local hospital with his family by his bedside. Wilridge was born on July 6, 1935, in Mowata, LA to Paulus and Mamie Doucet. He and his family moved to Westlake in 1948. Wilridge quickly fell in love with Westlake and lived there until his death. He was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church and served as Chairman of Ushers and was active in the Knights of Columbus.
From an early age, Wilridge loved football. He decided as an eighth grader that he could play that game as well as the "big boys." So he tried out and made the Rams team and was a member of the 1953 state championship team. He also played in the LCHSA All-Star game and earned All-State and All-American honors. After graduating from high school, he went on to play on the McNeese team all four years on a full athletic scholarship. He continued to support the McNeese football team as a member of the McNeese Cowboy Club. He earned both Bachelor's and Master's degrees from McNeese. He taught history and civics and coached football, basketball, and track. All of his life, he could retell stories of his experiences in the classroom and on the football field. With an ROTC commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, he served 6 months on active duty and then joined the Louisiana National Guard and later Army Reserve and served 22 years until his retirement as Lieutenant Colonel.
As a history teacher, his interest turned to politics. He served as an Alderman for the Town of Westlake
and later as Mayor from 1974-1982. After retirement, he served as School Board Representative for 12 years. With all of this, he still found time to serve as Manager of the Cal-Cam Fair for several years and later as a board member. He was a member of the Westlake Armed Forces Commission and was looking forward to completion of the Veteran's Park. He also was a long-time member of the NRA and had a 43-year perfect attendance record in the Westlake Rotary Club.
Wilridge is survived by his wife, Helen, and 6 daughters, Diana Doucet of Lake Charles, Tammie Doucet of Westlake, Paula Hooper of Sulphur, Marla Thibodeaux (Jamie) of Moss Bluff, Tammy Gardner of S. Jordan, UT, and Ann Pennington (Al) of Lancaster, TX. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, a sister, Nelda McManus of Westlake, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley Dawson Doucet, his parents, a sister, Versie Wilkins, and 2 brothers, Houston and George Doucet.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Westlake, LA. Rev. Michael Barras will officiate. Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery in Westlake. Visitation will be held from 5-9 p.m. Monday with a Rosary at 6 p.m., and visitation will resume at 9 a.m. until service time on Tuesday all at the church.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hixsonwestlake.com for the Doucet family.
